Undergraduate Summer Research Intern

Undergraduate Summer Intern Positions

The Penn State College of Medicine Department of Molecular and Precision Medicine is seeking applicants for two part-time Undergraduate Summer Interns (approximately 20-30 hours/week).

• Position A – Assists a research associate in preparing recombinant proteins for structural and functional studies of autophagy-related proteins.
• Position B – Works with an investigator to explore emerging AI-based approaches for computational analysis of NMR data.

These roles provide essential support to ongoing biomedical research, directly contributing to discoveries in autophagy and computational structural biology. Undergraduate researchers gain hands-on experience that advances both their professional development and the lab's scientific goals.

Position Description

Position A – Protein Chemistry

Protein expression – Assist in transforming, culturing, and inducing bacterial or insect cell lines for recombinant protein production. Protein purification – Perform affinity, ion exchange, or size-exclusion chromatography under supervision. Run SDS-PAGE gels to verify protein purity and integrity. Laboratory recordkeeping – Maintain a detailed lab notebook. Collaborative troubleshooting – Work with the research associate to optimize expression conditions or purification yields as needed.

Position B – AI/NMR Data Analysis

Script development – Write or modify Python scripts to preprocess and analyze NMR spectral data. AI model testing – Assist in applying machine learning tools to NMR spectral interpretation. Results visualization – Generate plots and summary statistics for lab meetings and progress reports.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student (any year) at an accredited institution
• Completed at least one college-level biology course (with laboratory preferred)
• Completed at least one college-level programming course or demonstrated equivalent experience (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB, or similar), required for position B
• Ability to commit to on-site work at Penn State College of Medicine for the summer term.

Schedule:

• 20-30 hours per week

Compensation:

The starting rate for this job is $18.00

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact .

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.